Operating louver construction



April 9, 1963 w. B. WALKER OPERATING LOUVER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1959 /NVEN7'0R WALTER B. MIL/(5k K 0 rrs 5Hm/04A/ United States Patent 3,fi84,61l ()lERATING LOUVER (IGNSTRUCTTQN Walter B. Walker, Grosse Isle, Mich, assignor to Waicon Corp., Eeorse, Mich. Filed Dec. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 856,784 6 Claims. ((31. 98--83) The present invention relates to new and useful iniprovernents in louvers and more particularly to an operating louver adapted to be assembled at the building site.

Louver-s are used to provide a simple ventilating means for a building, as an effective means for keeping out rain, snow and the like. Although many types of louvers have been proposed and built, excessive cost has limited their usage to some extent.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple louver construction which is durable and can be manufactured in high volume by modern mass production methods.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a louver which can be disassembled if necessary for repair or replacement of damaged par-ts.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a louver assembly that can be shipped from the factory in a knock-down condition, so as to effect an approximate 50% reduction of bulk storage space.

Another obiect of this invention is the provision of a knock-down louver construction wherein the surfaces of all of the parts used can be effectively coated to prevent oxidation, thereby substantially increasing the overall life expectancy.

The above and other objects of this invention can be accomplished by the provision of a knock-down louver construction having a generally horizontal head and sill member; a pair of vertically disposed jarnb members; vertical guide means on two edges of said jamb members; a plurality of louver blades; vertically disposed flanged retainers for pivotally supporting the ends of said louver blades; the flanged retainers and louver blades being assembled as a unit with the flanged retainers mounted in said guide means; said flanged retainers adapted to retain said louvers in spaced relationship with said jamb members; locating and assembly openings on the head, sill and jamb members for joining said parts as an assembled louver unit; stop means on the head, sill and jamb members for the prevention of excessive rotation of said louver blades; and operating means for movement of said louver blades.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a louvered ventilator embodying the present invention.

ElG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 with several louver blades removed.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along of FIG. 1. 1

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper right hand corner of the louver construction shown in FIG. 1.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

lines 3-3 dfifl ifill flatented Apr. 9, 1963 ice The louvered ventilator 1d of the present invention embodies a head member 12, a sill member 14, two similar jarnb members 16 and 18 and a plurality of horizontal louver blades 22 mounted in two similar vertical retainer members 24 and 26.

The head member 12 is generally flat on top and has a downwardly depending flange 2-8 on the forward edge thereof. The rearward flange section of the head 12 is first deformed downwardly at 34 and in generally parallel relationship to flange 28. Secondly the flange is deformed angularly downward at 36. The third bend in the flange is formed downwardly at 38 in generally parallel relationship to flange 28 and flange section 34. The fourth deformation forms flange 42 angularly downward and rearwardly. The downwardly depending vertical flange portion 38 is positioned slightly forward of the vertical center line of the member.

The sill member 14 has generally parallel vertical outside faces 44 and 46. The integral, horizontal lower portions 52 and 54 thereof are formed at generally right angles thereto. The rearward face 44 of the sill 14 is substantially greater in height than is the forward face 46. Intermediate the front and rear faces 44 and 46 is an integral irregular sloping or wedge-shaped section including the portions 56, 62 and 64. The first or rear portion 56 extends angularly downward to a point just to the rear of the vertical center line of the wedge-shaped section line. At this point the center portion 62 is formed downwardly in generally parallel relationship with the outer faces 44 and 46. The front or second portion of the wedge shaped section is indicated by the numeral 64 and it intersects the short sidewall 46. The front or angular sloping portion 64 is disposed in a plane generally parallel to the first angular sloping portion 56.

The jamb members In and 18 are of the same general U-shaped configuration. The jamb members are formed in such a manner as to provide a double guide track on the outside surface thereof. Since jamb members 16 and 18 are constructed similarly, only the jamb member 18 is described in detail, with reference to FIG. 3, and the corresponding parts of jamb member 16 are marked with similar reference numerals in FIG. 4. The jamb member 13 has flanges 72 and 74 which are positioned in generally parallel relationship. The sections 76 and 78 immediately adjacent the flanges 72 and 74 are disposed at right angles thereto for a short distance. At this point, the direction of each section is reversed, as at edges 77 and 38, folding the section back upon itself to form inner sections 82 and 84 and leaving a space or opening, as 8% and 81, between outer sections 76 and 78 and inner sections 82 and $4. The inner sections are again reversed to form surfaces in engagement with the outer surface of transverse plate 86, while leaving openings and 92 between the edges 83 and 77 and flanges 72 and 74, re- .spectively.

The flanged portion of the retainer section 26 is of such configuration as to be positioned within the track spaces or openings 8t 81, 9b and 9 .2 formed in the j-amb members 16 and 18. The retainer section 26 is generally rectangular in configuration. The main body portion 182 is flat and has the retainer track engaging flanges 1M and 1% on each edge thereof which extend at right angles thereto. A second flange extends fnom each of the first flanges 104- and 1%. The portion extending from flange the being identified by numeral 103 and the remaining portion which extends from flange 196 is identified by numeral 112.

The louver blades 22 are generally flat and have flanges on the edges thereof. The upper flange 122 is deformed to lie in generally parallel relationship to flange 72 on the jamb 1%. Flange 122 will also lie in generally parallel relationship to the flange on jamb 116 when the louver 9 blades 22 are properly positioned. A continuation 124 of the upper flange 122 is formed to lie in generally parallel relationship with the head member 12. A second flange is located on the lower portion of the louver blade 22 and is identified by numeral 132. Flange 132 is on the same general configuration as flange 122 but formed in the opposite direction. Flange 132 lies in generally parellel relationship to flange 74 of the jamb 18, while the bottom louver flange 134 is positioned in generally parallel relationship to the top louver flange 124.

The above description covers the basic lineal configuration of all the major parts used in the louver assembly. However, several additional steps must be taken before the complete louver unit is ready for assembly. First, both ends of the head member 12 must be notched as indicated by numeral 15. Two openings 17 and 19 are positioned in each end of the head member 12. One opening 17 is located on each corner of the rear flange 34, while opening 19 in alignment therewith is located on each of the corners of forward flange 23. Additionally, four openings 21, 2 3, 25 and 27 are placed in the ends of flanges 72 and 74 of jamb members 16 and 18. Openings 2'1 and 23 adapted to be in alignment with openings 17 and :19, while openings 25 and 27 are adapted to be in alignment with another set of openings 29 and 31 lo cated in the corners of the sill member 14. All of the openings in the sill member 14 are positioned generally in the same location as those openings found in the head member 12.

A series of enlarged, spaced openings 33 are located along the vertical axis of the flanged retainer member 26. Each of the openings 33 being adapted to receive the head 141 of the axial member 140 or pivotal means, generally indicated by the numeral. Both of the retainer members having openings positioned in the same general relationship.

Each end of the louver blades 22 has a single press operation performed thereon. The operation being the application of a squared section 142 struck up and down from the central portion thereof. This squared struck out portion 142' is adapted to receive the rectangular shank end 145 of the pivotal means 140.

Assembly The individual parts of the louver assembly are shipped in la knock-down condition. There are four holes in the head, sill and jamb members for assembly purposes. Therefore, eight sheet metal screws are required to complete the assembly. The outside hole in each instance is of langer diameter than the inside hole. By this means, accurate alignment is assured and :all joints will be uniform and flat.

The first step in the assembly procedure is that of joining the side rails or jamb members 16 and 18 to the sill member 14. The sheet metal screws to be positioned in each of the four openings and drawn up loosely. Next the pivotal means 140 is assembled with the retainer plate 26. The head portions 141 of the pivotal means Mt are positioned in each of the openings 33, While the rectangular shank portion 145 of the pivotal means 141 is inserted into the struck up portions 142 in the louver blades 22. After completion of the retainer and louver blade sub-assembly, the sub-assembly is inserted into the guide or retainer track openings 80, 81, 9t) and 92 in the jamb members 16 and 18. The head member 12 is then positioned and aflixed with the sheet metal screws provided. All of the screws in the assembly are then drawn tight and the complete unit is ready for installation in a building. Any suitable actuating means (not shown) may be used for actuating the pivotal louvers.

When the louver unit has been completely assembled flange 38 on head member 12 limits rotation of the louver blade flange 124 on the uppermost blade 22 and flange 62 on the sill limits the movement of louver blade flange 134, 124 on the lowermost blade 22. Additionally vertic-al flanges 122 and 132 also engage the side jamb flanges 72 and 74 to prevent rotation. When the blades 22 are in the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 the louver is in the open position. When the blades are moved to the broken line position indicated in FIG. 2 the louver is in the closed position. This construction provides a simple louver unit which can be assembled on a building site when necessary and will not have to be exposed to damage prior to installation, as now is the case with the assembled unit.

Since no spot welding is used in the assembly of the louver unit, the complete assembly can be taken down and parts replaced or repaired if and when necessary.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention is simple and the resulting product durable. The complete assembly is inexpensive and can be assembled with nonskilled labor. Once the louver is installed it can be maintained throughout its life with little or no further expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A knock-down louver ventilator, comprising: a hori zontal head member; a horizontal sill member spaced vertically below said head member; a pair of generally U-shaped vertically disposed, spaced apart, jamb members; each of said jamb members including an outer transverse plate and a pair of inwardly extended spaced apart flanges; the lower ends of said ramb members being detachably connected to the opposite ends of said sill member to provide a U-shaped frame; retainer track means vertically formed on each of the transverse plates of said jamb members; a louver sub-assembly unit disposed between the jamb members in said frame and including a pair of vertical laterally spaced apart retainer members and a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced apart louver blades disposed between said retainer members; means pivotally mounting the ends of the louver blades on the retainer members for movement of the louver blades between an open position and a closed position; retainer track engaging means vertically disposed on each of said retainer members; said louver subassembly unit being slidably mounted in said U-shaped frame between said jamb members and resting on said sill member and with the retainer track engaging means on each retainer member including flanges which are slidably mounted in the retainer track means on each adjacent jamb member and which engage the spaced apart flanges thereof; and, said head member being detachably connected to the upper ends of said jamb members for retaining the louver sub-assembly in place between the jamb members and preventing upward move ment of the louver sub-assembly.

2. A knock-down louver ventilator, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said retainer track means on each of the transverse plates of said jamb members are formed along the outer sides thereof with the retainer track means on each of the jamb members communicating with the inner sides of the transverse plates of the jamb members.

3. A knock-down louver ventilator, comprising: a horizontal head member; a horizontal sill member spaced vertically below said head member; a pair of generally U-shaped vertically disposed, spaced apart, jamb members; each of said jamb members including an outer transverse plate and a pair of inwardly extended spaced apart flanges; the lower ends of said jamb members being detachably connected to the opposite ends of said sill member to provide a U-shaped frame; a pair of spaced apart vertical retainer tracks formed along the outer side of the transverse plate of each jamb member; each of said retainer tracks communicating with the inner sides of the transverse plates of the jamb members; a louver sub-assembly unit disposed between the jamb members in said frame and including a pair of vertical, laterally spaced apart, retainer members and a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced apart louver blades disposed between said retainer members; means pivotally mounting the ends of the louver blades on the retainer members for movement of the louver blades between an open position and a closed position; a pair of retainer track engaging means on the outer side of each retainer member; said louver sub-assembly unit being slidably mounted between said jamb members and resting on said sill member and with the pair of retainer track engaging means on each retainer member including a pair of flanges which are slidably mounted in the pair of retainer tracks on each adjacent jamb member and which engage the spaced apart flanges thereof; and, said head member being detachably connected to the upper ends of said jamb members for retaining the louver sub-assembly in place between the jamb members and preventing upward movement of the louver sub-assembly.

4. A knock-down louver as defined in claim 3, wherein: the head, sill and jamb members are provided with locating means for joining said parts together.

5. A knock-down louver as defined in claim 3, wherein: said head and sill members are provided with stop means which are engaged by the louver blades when the louver blades are moved to the closed position; and, said jamb members having flanges along the front and rear ends thereof which function as stop means and are engaged by the louver blades when the louver blades are moved to the open position.

6. A knock-down louver ventilator, comprising: a notched one-piece, irregularly shaped horizontal head member; a one-piece, irregularly shaped horizontal sill member spaced vertically below said head member; a pair of generally U-shaped vertically disposed, spaced apart, jamb members; the lower ends of said jamb members being detachably connected to the opposite ends of said sill member to provide a U-shaped frame; a pair of spaced apart vertical retainer tracks formed along the outer side of each jamb member; each of said retainer tracks communicating with the inner sides of the jamb members; each of said retainer tracks comprising a slot formed in each corner of the jamb members by means of the edges of the jamb members being folded back upon themselves a first time and folded over a second time; a louver subassembly unit disposed between the jamb members in said frame and including a pair of vertical, laterally spaced apart, retainer members and a plurality of horizontally disposed, spaced apart generally flat louver blades disposed between said retainer members; means pivotally mounting the ends of the louver blades on the retainer members for movement of the louver blades between an open position and a closed position; a pair of retainer track engaging means on the outer side of each retainer member; said louver sub-assembly unit being slidably mounted between said jamb members and resting on said sill member and with each of the retainer track engaging means on each retainer member comprising flanges which are slidably mounted in the retainer tracks on each adjacent jamb member; said head member being detachably connected to the upper ends of said jamb members for retaining the louver sub-assembly in place between the jamb members and preventing upward movement of the louver sub-assembly; locating means in said head, sill and jamb members for aligning and joining said head, sill and jamb members; the jamb members having flanges which form stop members that are engaged by the louver blades when the louver blades are moved to the open position; and, portions of the irregularly shaped head and sill members forming stop members that are engaged by the louver blades when the louver blades are moved to the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,876 Frick May 25, 1909 1,574,493 Leonard Feb. 23, 1926 1,793,081 Goddard Feb. 17, 1931 2,227,360 Nelson Dec. 31, 1940 2,834,280 Feldrnan et al. May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 755,038 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1956 

6. A KNOCK-DOWN LOUVER VENTILATOR, COMPRISING: A NOTCHED ONE-PIECE, IRREGULARLY SHAPED HORIZONTAL HEAD MEMBER; A ONE-PIECE, IRREGULARLY SHAPED HORIZONTAL SILL MEMBER SPACED VERTICALLY BELOW SAID HEAD MEMBER; A PAIR OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED VERTICALLY DISPOSED, SPACED APART, JAMB MEMBERS; THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID JAMB MEMBERS BEING DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SILL MEMBER TO PROVIDE A U-SHAPED FRAME; A PAIR OF SPACED APART VERTICAL RETAINER TRACKS FORMED ALONG THE OUTER SIDE OF EACH JAMB MEMBERS; EACH OF SAID RETAINER TRACKS COMMUNICATING WITH THE INNER SIDES OF THE JAMB MEMBERS; EACH OF SAID RETAINER TRACKS COMPRISING A SLOT FORMED IN EACH CORNER OF THE JAMB MEMBERS BY MEANS OF THE EDGES OF THE JAMB MEMBERS BEING FOLDED BACK UPON THEMSELVES A FIRST TIME AND FOLDED OVER A SECOND TIME; A LOUVER SUBASSEMBLY UNIT DISPOSED BETWEEN THE JAMB MEMBERS IN SAID FRAME AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICAL, LATERALLY SPACED APART, RETAINER MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, SPACED APART GENERALLY FLAT LOUVER BLADES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID RETAINER MEMBERS; MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE ENDS OF THE LOUVER BLADES ON THE RETAINER MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE LOUVER BLADES BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION AND A CLOSED POSITION; A PAIR OF RETAINER TRACK ENGAGING MEANS ON THE OUTER SIDE OF EACH RETAINER MEMBER; SAID LOUVER SUB-ASSEMBLY UNIT BEING 